The Art of Airstreaming

Airstreamers are sometimes referred to collectively as a cult. While this description is a little extreme -- there are few ritualistic ceremonies beyond flushing the tanks -- there’s no doubt that Airstream owners are passionate about their iconic silver trailers. Thus it only makes sense that Airstream-themed artwork would gain an audience.

This Grand Haven Tribune article about artist Mary Sundstrom is interesting on a couple of different levels. First of all, Mary's an artist who courts the Airstream niche, and does so quite nicely. That’s one of her pieces above. You can check out her website here: Airstream Art Studio. She sells prints on eBay (just search for "Airstream art") and even does commissioned pieces.

But what really grabbed my attention was the story of Mary's own Airstream find. She bought a sadly neglected 22-foot Safari model for a mere $400! Then she plowed her time and energy into the restoration effort. There's a certain style about the vintage trailers that is truly timeless, and Mary's Safari is a good example. After fresh doses of tile, paint, and exterior polish, it looks beautiful.

The Airstream brand is often viewed in luxurious, upscale terms. That’s because the newer ones are priced well into the lower stratosphere. Just looking at those MSRPs may induce nosebleed. But in reality, Airstreaming is not a life of champagne and Grey Poupon. Club membership is open to anyone with a few hundred dollars and a willingness to work.